Forces cancellation of indoor event
Olympics and world indoors championships with a throw of 18.65 metres at the recent Potts Classic in Hastings in her return to the competitive arena. Walsh has won the last two world indoors shot put titles, with victories in Portland in 2016 and Birmingham in 2018.
The world indoors were scheduled to take part in Nanjing from March 13-15. Other New Zealand athletes who had qualified for the championships were shot putters Jacko Gill and MaddisonLee Wesche and two-time Olympic 1500m medallist Nick Willis.
Walsh told Stuff he was disappointed not to launch his international season at an event close to his heart, but backed the governing body’s decision to take no risks with the health of their athletes, especially in an Olympic year.
‘‘Hopefully they’ve made the right decision.’’ he said. ‘‘They’ve probably got more information than a lot of people and if they’re saying it’s not safe, then it’s probably not safe to go.
‘‘I love competing at the world indoors. It’s one of my favourite competitions, it’s always very enjoyable and it’s been good to me. Yes, it’s disappointing but I’d rather be healthy than take any risks going for another gold medal.’’
The 27-year-old said the postponement would require some tweaking of his programme for 2020 but would not change too much.
Kiwi freeskier Nico Porteous’ hopes of competing the first ever Winter X Games in China have been dashed by the coronavirus.
The event was scheduled to run from February 21-23 in Chongli, Zhangjiakou, which is about 1300km from Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak.